Pages

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

So here are some things I'd like to happen in the next book (beware -- SPOILERS from HoF, obviously):
1. Celaena settling things with Chaol.
2. Getting Aedion out of the shithole where he's been locked up and I want a nice, heartwarming reunion between the cousins.
3. Our girl finally killing Arobynn. Muhahaha.

4. My poor baby Dorian. I WANT HIM SAFE AND FAR FROM THAT MONSTER. *sniff*Please, to all writing gods that exist out there, don't let that freaking vile thing turn our precious prince into a Valg. I would die alongside Aelin.

5. Seeing what Ansel's been up to in the witches' kingdom.
6. MORE ROWAN. THERE CAN NEVER BE ENOUGH ROWAN.

7. Seeing the King suffer a long, painful death. I know it's not possible (plotwise) so early on, but still.
8. Manon showing the other heirs and her grandma who's the boss.

Also, please tell me I wasn't the only one shouting "NOOO, YOU TWO GOTTA STICK TOGETHER!" at the end of book 3. Rowan and Celaena are just the epitome of badassery and I love them.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

On the heels of graduating college and trying to cope with her mother’s death,
Emily Cooper moves to New York City for a fresh start.

While harboring secrets of his own, Dillon Parker takes care of Emily through
her grief. Knowing he can’t live without her by his side, he’s sweet,
thoughtful, and everything Emily has ever wanted in a man.

Until she meets Gavin Blake—a rich and notorious playboy who is dangerously
sexy and charming as hell. Emily tries to deny the instant connection she
feels, but Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome is not inclined to let go so easily.
Recovering from his own painful past, Gavin will stop at nothing to win Emily
over.

This unexpected encounter compels Emily to question her decisions, forcing her
to make a choice that will destroy friendships, shatter hearts, and forever
change her life.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Genres: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Recommended for: fans of Thoughtless series

Future book in
the series:
Pulse

My opinions:

Let me start by saying that I first rated Collide with
5 stars. The synopsis hooked me from the beginning and the cover is pure
awesomesauce, so you can say I’ve been waiting impatiently for its release. When
it came out, I devoured it in less than 24 hours and enjoyed it immensely. But
as time passed some issues I overlooked started bugging me and, unfortunately,
I reduced my rating with a star. Or more. I don’t know, I’m still considering
this. *shrugs*

Collide is a mash-up of Thoughtless series and, if you
want, Crossfire series. We have a love triangle. We have the confused girl torn
between two different guys. We have the young, possesive, succesful billionaire
who is also a playboy. The gay roommate – couldn’t help myself ;) And, finally,
we have the New York City scenery looming in the background – another Crossfire
common element.

Originality is definitely not a key point to this
novel, but the story flows naturally – despite some
dumb/oh-my-gawd/holy-shit-kind-of mistakes from the characters. Which brings me
to my next discovery.

HOW THE HELL CAN SOMEONE STAND TO BE WITH A GUY THAT
MAKES HER FEEL BAD CONSTANTLY, CHEATS HER AND POSSESSES HER LIKE SOME SORT OF
OBJECT?!?!?! HOW????*pulls hair*
Phew, okay, enough with the shouty capitals. But seriously, let me develop.

Emily, who loves Dillon and has been with him for
almost a year, is so blind to see how her boyfriend really is. Meaning a manipulative,
jerk, lying money-lover and a cheating bastard. Pretty much a top-notch asshole/douchebag.
Emily frustrated me so damn much with her superficial way of thinking and
Dillon got me in Rambo mode every time he tried to turn a situation in his
favor, implicitly making Emily feel guilty over some non-sense. Bullshit.

But please let me present you the reason I LOOOOVED at
least 50% of this book. He’s known as Mr. Tall, Dark and Fuckable, but society aknowledges
him as Gavin Blake. I loved his personality,his dedication, his loyalty and he’s just awesome book boyfriend
potential. He’s driven, ambitious, caring and protective. He wants a family and children, dammit! Yep, holy perfect alpha-male,
huh? But he’s also Dillon’s friend and when he sets his sight on Emily, sparks
fly and one helluva chemistry is born! Attraction, steamy scenes, confessions…
expect them all, my ladies.

“Every
part of you was made for me. Your lips were made to kiss mine, your eyes were
made to wake up to me looking at you in my bed every morning, and your fucking
tongue was made to roll my name off of it. I am more certain of us than I'm
certain that I require oxygen to breathe.”

Now don’t get all touchy-feely on me if you’re against
the whole insta-love crap, because this one’s done extremely good. Just read
and see ;)

“Doll,
you're going to get me out of your system as much as I'm going to get you out
of mine. It's impossible.”

The secondary characters were amazingly built. Olivia,
Emily’s gay best friend and roommate, was my favorite female character. She’s hilarious,
wild and carefree, but also protective of the ones she holds close to her
heart. I truly adored her.

“Sometimes
bad choices bring us to the right people, Emily.”

But there was one tiny little character that isn’t
worth mentioning because she ruined a lovely outcome and hurt Mr. Tall, Dark
and Fuckable in his past. I’ll just name her Bitch. Well, Bitch, I’ve got some
things to say to your selfish ass:

Or do. Whatever.

Predictability was another issue I overlooked for the
sake of enjoying a long-awaited read. Some scenes developed exactly as I
expected and that made me cringe several times. Not so many twists and turns,
but on the other hand the pace was perfect.

Another thing that confused me was the mixed POV
without some announcement. I mean, I was with Gavin one second and then with
Emily across the room. But I got used to it so it wasn’t a really big problem –
just annoying.

The book ends ends in a cliffhanger, so if you don’t
like them I strongly suggest to wait a few more months until the sequel, Pulse,
comes out. But honestly, I felt that the story could’ve been easily wrapped up
and finished in this book without dragging it. Hopefully, Pulse won’t feel as a
filling-book J

“I
want the late-night drives, the sunset watching, the screaming, the yelling,
and the crying. I know I'll definitely want the make-up sex that comes after
all of the screaming and crying. I want the good, the bad, and the in-between.
All of it is what's going to make us amazing together.”

Overall, Collide is a good read who will engage you in
the story and quite possibly make you love fall in love with some of its
characters. The author, Gail McHugh, has amazing potential and for her debut,
Collide managed to make me her fan. I recommend this novel to anyone who likes
good New Adult books.

Description: For almost two years now, Kiera's
boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she's ever wanted: loving, tender and
endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives
together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university,
everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple
apart.

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected
source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he's purely a friend that
she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And
then one night everything changes...and none of them will ever be the same.

Rating: 5 BRILLIANT KELLAN KYLE STARS

Must read! Must have!

Genres: New
Adult, Contemporary Romance

Recommended for: fans of New Adult romance and intense stories

My opinions:

Oh. My.
God. This book:

May I admit
that I love love love this book but I
kinda hate it too? I’m freaking overwhelmed and exhausted after that emotional
rollercoaster! But you wanna know the reason? The love triangle. No,
scratch that. The only reason is Kiera -_-

“What if I
don’t choose you, Kellan? What will you do?”
He looked away, a tear rolling down his cheek. “I’ll leave, Kiera. I’ll leave,
and you and Denny can have your happily ever after.” He looked back at me. “You
wouldn’t even need to tell him about me. Eventually, the two of you…” his voice
broke and another tear fell on his cheek, “the two of you would get married,
and have children, and have a great life.”
I fought back a sob. “And you? What happens to you in that scenario?”
“I…get by. And I miss you, every day,” he whispered.”

But let me
start from the beginning. The book is told from Kiera’s POV, a young woman who
follows her boyfriend Denny in Seattle after he graduated and who enrolls at
the local University just to be with him. I loooved Denny and his sweet, loyal
personality. He’s good looking, intelligent, devoted and charming. Oh, and
Australian – always good for a sexy little accent ;) They’re moving in Kellan
Kyle’s house, Denny’s best friend from high school, who’s also a sing leader in
a famous local band named D-Bags. <---Does that sentence look a little bit too goody-goody to describe Kellan
Kyle? Well then let me try again. Ahem.

Kiera is
attracted to him from moment No. 1, but she just blaims it on his ridiculuosly
good looks. She also gets a new job as a waitress at Pete’s, the bar where
Kellan’s band plays. But Denny gets an amazing new job also that forces him to
leave in Tucson for two months, leaving Kiera behind with Kellan for a hell a
lot of time. And this, my darlings, is where the fun (and pull-hairing) begins...
*grins*

“He said I was
his heart, and you don’t leave your heart behind. You can’t live without your
heart.”

Kiera’s
lonely and depressed after Denny leaves and Kellan is right there to comfort
her. They start a wonderful easy going friendship that had me swooning over the
guy. But when the sparks between them start to flame, I just knew there was
going to be an incendiary collision that will leave burning consequences
behind.

“We were never
innocent, Kiera. How naive are you?”

After a
fight with Denny, Kiera makes two decisions that decide her path instantly that
– ha, did you honestly think I’ll tell you how the whole story unwraps? Really?
No, not this time ladies, because I want you to pick up the book and go through
the same emotional-yet-beautiful torture I’ve been through. Muhaha... *grins*

“I don't know
how to let you back in." My heart beat spiked and I closed my eyes when he
whispered," I don't know how to keep you out either.”

My favorite
character was definitely the godlike swoon/drool/crush/rape worthy Kellan Kyle.
He made me laugh out loud and smile all the time. But don’t let that perfectly
face of his fool you – he’s broken, lost and hopeless. My eyes watered when he
told his story, the little glimpes of pain he expressed shocking me on a whole
new level. I just wanted to hug, kiss and protect him like I’d be his momma
bear. Regardless, you’ll fall head over your heels in love with him.

“He spoke
rapidly in-between his tender kisses. "I love you. I'm sorry. I'm so
sorry. The women...I was so scared to touch you. You didn't want me...I
couldn't take the pain. I tried to get over you. Every time with them, I was
with you. I'm so sorry...I love you.”

And Denny,
oh dear God, Denny! Sweet, loyal, charming Denny. My heart broke for him time
after time, hoping he’ll get out of this mess. But when the lies and insecurities
about Kiera started to show, the feelings he must’ve felt left me in a
depressed mode. At the end of the book, there was such an intense and emotional
slap in the face for him that he just exploded. I wanted to take him under my
wing and protect him from all the lies and complots. He didn’t deserve any of
that.

“I want to be
someone's everything. I want fire and passion, and love that's returned,
equally. I want to be someone's heart.”

The
secondary characters were, in one word, amazing. I loved the guys (okay,
besides Griffin), Jenny, Anna, Kate and everyone else around. They lighted up
the mood and pushed me through the confusing feelings I felt over the whole
love triangle situation and for that I’ll be always grateful.

“Dude, he's
Australian...not a pirate.”

And this is
where I stop with my totally-fan-girlin’-rambling and just complain about one thing.
One single tiny character I haven’t approached. Kiera.

“There were so
many secrets between us now, it was hard remembering a time when things had
been simple & easy, when it had felt like pure puppy love. I suppose all
love eventually comes back down to earth.”

Who the
hell does what she did???? Ruining a wonderful relationship with Denny?? Now
don’t get me wrong, I’m all Team Kellan, but alternating between two amazing
guys, leading them on and on and being unable to just freaking choose made me
want to strangle her 99,99 % of the book. She was annoying, selfish, immature
and she didn’t deserve Kellan nor Denny. I really wanted to shake her, slap
her, pull her hair – really, anything would’ve worked. She hurt both guys on countless times and my heart ached
constantly for them. But somehow I managed to get through her issues and finish
the book (hooray!), because regardless of her personality, this book is a
must-read.

S.C.
Stephens created complex characters, confusing desires and overwhelming stories
in this book. Thoughtless was quite the page turner with all the sexy, steamy
scences, heartbreaking revelations and the funny lines that cheered me up
completely. An addictive story that will leave you breathless, gasping for
more, although the ending doesn’t have a cliffhanger. So I recommend it to
everyone who loves a good love triangle and has the patience to finish the
book. I guarantee that in the end you’ll love it. <3

“It was
heartfelt, it was heartbreaking. It was extreme joy, it was bone-crushing
grief. It was fiery hot, it was icy-cold. It was true love sprouting... it was
true love dying.

It's like we were both trying to hold onto something that was slipping through
our fingers, and we didn't understand why.”